[New application of FC-43 as a hypoxic cell sensitizer]

Meth-A fibrosarcoma (10(5) cells) was implanted into the thigh of BALB/c mice. After a predetermined interval, the mice were injected i.v. with FC-43 (artificial blood) with or without oxygen, treated by irradiation or a combination of injection and irradiation and the effect of these treatments was studied. The mear tumor weight of animals treated by irradiation plus oxygen was 6.57 g and 3.18 g in experiments 1 and 2, respectively. Treatment with irradiation plus FC-43 with oxygen resulted in a significant decrease of the mean tumor weight, 3.17 g and 1.59 g in experiments 1 and 2, respectively (p less than 0.05, p less than 0.02). FC-43 with oxygen may have a synergistic effect for radiation therapy. When the preirradiated tumors were small (4.8 mm2), this effect was not obvious.